1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jejune distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jejune are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When might banal be a better fit than jejune?

While the synonyms banal and jejune are close in meaning, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

Where would flat be a reasonable alternative to jejune?

While in some cases nearly identical to jejune, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of jejune?

The words inane and jejune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than jejune?

The words insipid and jejune can be used in similar contexts, but insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When would vapid be a good substitute for jejune?

In some situations, the words vapid and jejune are roughly equivalent. However, vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • Harris, the narrator’s husband: Paul Mescal or Nick Kroll Can Ireland's sexiest chain-wearer reinvent himself as a boring straight guy who's not entirely fulfilling his wife?
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025
  • From awful ads to a divisive halftime show to a boring game, 10 things to forget.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The pair settle right away into the half-affectionate, half-annoyed, goofy childish dynamic recognizable to adult siblings everywhere — to the amusement and occasional irritation of Frank, a locally beloved good old boy who’s only the teeny-tiniest bit prone to vanity and corruption.
    Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
  • In his sparse notebooks, his childish, unformed handwriting was endearing to me.
    Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • These clowns dressed as presidents appear immature and narcissistic.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2025
  • A lot of us automatically use certain emotionally immature phrases without even thinking about it.
    Kathy and Ross Petras, Contributors, CNBC, 1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.
    Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Jeanne is 15, a restless adolescent among a tribe of younger children in an orphanage in the mountains where she is first seen wandering at dusk, her way lit by the snow’s reflective glitter.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Sleep regressions, toddler tantrums, adolescent mood swings — yes, parenting has its challenges.
    Malaka Gharib, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Morgan Stanley also highlighted risks such as weaker consumption and a slower pace of enterprise digitalization.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The cut is also gaining ground on the Adult Contemporary chart, only at a much slower pace, which is not unusual for that list.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The first bill, H.B. 951, will add certain juvenile offenses to a preexisting list of reportable offenses.
    Mike Griffith, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Some may be affiliated with gangs or are on juvenile probation.
    Meg Anderson, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Entries

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on jejune

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!